Edo government to take over IDP facility

AFTER the controversial attempt to relocate Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) occasioned by activities of insurgents being camped in a facility run by a missionary in Edo State, Governor Adams Oshiomhole Tuesday evening said the state would begin support for the victims with the provision of facilities like schools, hostels, toiletries and places of convenience for the victims.

Governor Oshiomhole‎ stated this when he paid a visit to the camp in Uhoghua community, Ovia North East Local Council of the state.

Accompanied by his wife Iara and other top government functionaries, Oshiomhole expressed shock over the number of the IDPs, most of them children, assuring that the government will immediately build standard primary and secondary schools and hostels to give them some comfort.

He said the controversial attempt to move them from the state took him to Abuja to meet with the President, where he prevailed on him to allow the children remain in the camp, that the state government will take care of their needs despite the current economic hardship.

The governor interacted with the IDPs in Hausa language, where most of them informed him of the name of their states and communities. “I can see the children are from different states in the North, from Taraba, Borno, Kano, Yobe, etc, they are very young children. We have to do everything to ensure they are comfortable .We have discussed with security agencies, they will ensure that adequate security is provided to secure these children.”

“Those of them that we have identified their parents, we will arrange at the expense of the Edo State government, we will arrange for them to meet their parents so that they can reunite with their children. They can leave them behind if they wish, but at least they will be assured that their children are in good hands.”

“I have assigned about seven senior officers, two Commissioners and others. I have asked the Commissioner for Education so that we will straight away commence the building of primary school here, so that no child will be denied quality education in Edo State. I know they already have what you call school but in Edo State we have standard. We are particularly kin in ensuring that no child is denied education. It does not matter if they are not from this state, but we are one Nigeria, once you are in Edo state you are part of us,” he declared.

Reacting to the attempt to relocate the children last Sunday, the governor said: “I am not aware of the attempt to relocate them. But I think it is communication gap. The recent issue was just because of the impression that some of the kids wanted to reunite with their parents, but we said it was better for their parents to come here and see their children.”

“It is very touching seeing these kids, I think the good news is that the Edo State government will take over their welfare, we will treat them the same way we treat every other child in Edo state. I imagine how they feel not being with their parents. What is very clear to me is that they are all happy to be here and they want to remain here. So we will give them every support that they need. We will build a standard secondary and primary school and we will bring qualified government teachers here. We will also build modern hostels here so that they will have more comfort.”

“I saw one woman who said her husband ran to Cameroun, like my wife said to them, they will become our children,” he stated.